Valve for pneumatic-dispatch-tube systems



(No Model.)

. l A. W. PEAR'SALL.v VALVE FOR PNBUMMIG DISPATGH TUBE SYSTEMS. No. 52`7,073.

Patented 0011,.9, 1894.

mc norms Pmns sa. moro'mno., wAsumsmN. u. c.

` UNITED STATES`,

SPA-TENT Fries..

ALBERT WPEARSALL, OF NEW YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE METEOR COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

'SPECIFICATION form-.ing part of Letters Patent No. 527,073, dated October 9, 1894;.

Application led April 16,1894. Serial No. 507,675. (No model.)

5 useful Improvements in Valves for Pneuf matic-Dispatch-Tube Systems; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

which will enable others skilled in the .art t0.v I which it appertains to make and use the same My invention relates tocertain new andv useful improvements in pressure Valves for termlnals 1n pneumatic dispatch tube sys-g tems 1n which pressure is used as a propel- I ling medium for the carriers, and it consists of certain novel features, arrangements and combinations hereinafter described-and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings z-Figure I represents a side 2O view of the'terminal with parts in section.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view tak'en on thev line e' z of Fig. land looking in the directionV indicated by the arrow. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the bottom of the terminal takenl on the linexa: of Fig. 1, looking vin the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 4. is a detail perspective view of the pressure valve of the terminal,

In the drawings like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The terminal A consists of an outer curved guiding plate A and the iat sides A2, with anv inner curved guiding plate A3, cast, or otherwise secured, to the sides Azof the terminal, 3 5 or, if desired, it may be cast with or otherwise secured to the bottom plate-of the `terminal, and extending about one-half the distance of the outer curved guiding plate A'. At the upper end A5 of the curved plate A3 4o the guide rods A4 are secured and also held in position by the braces A6 secured to the sides A2 of the terminal. This construction permits the pressure, passing around the in ner curved plate A3, to pass between and around the rods A4 to the outlet or return tube E of the terminal.

The outer curved guiding plate A' and inner curved guiding plate A3, with the rods A4, aredrawn on circles of different 'diame- 5o ters so as to provide a sufficient space in the upper part of the terminal, betweenthe outer bottom'of the terminal. vof the terminal is secu red to the bottom plate plate A' and the inner plate A3 with its guide rods A4, to' prevent the carrier being obstructed as it is driven through the terminal toward the discharge opening. kThe inlet tube B, through which the carrier is driven to the terminal, is secured to the terminal A between the outer plate A' and the inner plate A3, so that the carrier, entering" the terminal, passes vup between the said two plates and around between the outer plate A' and guide.' rods A4 to the valve C in the The upper portion D, and at one end of said plate the inlet tubev B and outlet or return tube E are secured. The opposite 'end of this plate is cut away, as indicated in Fig. '1, to provide an opening D', which extends from near the point where the tube E is secured to thelbottom plate to the point where the outer plate A' is secured to the plate D. This opening D' is closed by the valve() having its shaft C journaled in the lugs C2 formed in the sides of the plate D around the' opening D', and the said valve O'is constructed of th'ree leaves, O3, C4 and C5, the leaves C4and C5 being of equal length from the'shaft, while the leaf O3 is shorter than the said leaves C4 and C5. Thevalve is held in a horizontal position, as shown in full'lines, by the pressure of the air, which is greater on the right handleaf C4 than on the left hand leaf C3, which pressure holds the two leaves C3 and C4v tightly to their seats and prevents the escape of air through the opening D', so that a continuous pressure is kept up through the inlet tube B, terminal A and .outlet tube E, as the pressure passes around the inner curved plate As and between .the

guide rods A4 to the outlet pipe E. The pressure being equal and there being a greater area on the right hand leaf O4 itis held down tightly to itsseat, and the left hand leaf O3 is held tightly up to its seat.

In the normal condition of the apparatus ywhen no carrier is received at the terminal a continuous current of pressure is kept up through the inlet tube B, terminal A and outlet tube E, and the pressure acting on the valve C holds'said valve tight-ly to its seat, as above described, and prevents any escape of pressure'through the opening D'.

IOO

For convenience we will assume that the drawings represent the terminal at thesalesmans station, although it is equally well adapted to the cashiers station. A carrier being returned from the cashier, enters the terminal A through the inlet tube B, passes around the curve formed by the outer plate A' and inner plate A3 and guide rods A4, and strikes the leaf C3 of the valve C with sufficient momentum to overcome the pressure on the leaf C4 of the valve, which is of greater area, and thereby causes the Valve C to revolve on its shaft C and throws the leaves C3, C14 and C5 in the position shown in dotted lines to permit the discharge of the carrier. \Vhen the valve, by reason of the discharge of the carrier, has taken the position shown in dotted lines, the pressure, acting directly on the third leaf C5, forces it back to its normal position, shown in full lines, and conse qnently brings the other two `leaves C3 and C4 back to their seats and horizontal position, as shown in the drawings.

A closed chamber F is provided, havingthe curved end piece F and flat sides F2, which, with the valve (J5 in its normal position as shown in Fig. l, form a closed air chamber, and the leaf (L5 in moving upwardly in said chamber makes a close joint with the end and sides of the chamber, so that the pressure acting on the leaf C5, when the leaf is in position shown in dotted lines,`"cannot escape from the terminal by reason of the leaf C4 being raised, and the leaf C5 making a close fit with the end and sides of the chamber F, prevents any escape of pressure, which is thereby compelled to act upon the leaf C5 and force it down to its normal position, and the other two leaves C3 and C4 to their normal positions, all as hereinbefore described.

The valve C, as shown in Figs. l and 4, is a casting with the leaves slotted, and in the slots some suitable material as pure gum,

sheet rubber, or raw hide, C6 is inserted with the edges of the substance projecting a suiiicient distance all around from the casting to form the contact surfaces of the leaves of the valve C with their seats.

In the outlet tube E there is provided a branch tube G, the opening of which has a V valve G', the leaves of which are tightly held together by the internal pressure in the system. If the pressure is light and not sufficient to hold the leaves together, light springs may be provided to bear against the leaves to hold them closed, but usually the pressure is suthcient of itself to hold the leaves closed.

To send a carrier to the cashier it is pushed into the branch tube G, between theleaves of the valve G', and enters the return tube E by which it is driven to the cashier, and the leaves of the valve G are closed by the pressure as soon the carrier has been inserted, so there is no means of escape for the pressure.

As above stated the valve C, as described, is adapted for systemsusing pressure as a propelling medium for the'carriers, in distinction from systems in which the propelling medium is a vacuum, that is, in which theair in front of the carrier is removed and the ear-Y rier is drawnby the suction in front of it and not driven by pressure behind it.

I do not limit myself to the exact arrangement and construction shown, as the same maybe varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus ascertained the nature and set forth the construction of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. ln a pneumatic dispatch tube system, the combination, with a terminal having an opening for the discharge of carriers, of a valve normally closing said opening and held in its closed position by the p ressure `in the system.

2. In a pneumatic dispatch tube system, the combination with a terminal having an opening for the discharge of carriers, of a valve provided with leaves and pivoted in said opening, which is normally closed `by two of the leaves of the valveof different areas.

3. In a pneumatic dispatch 'tube system, the combination with a terminal having an opening for the discharge of carriers, of a valve having connected surfaces of different areas exposed to the pressure of the system and normally closing said opening.

4. In a` pneumatic dispatch tube system, the combination with a terminal having an opening for the discharge of carriers, of a Valve normally closing said opening and provided with surfaces of diierent areas exposed to the pressure of the system and adapted to move in opposite directions when the valve is opened by the momentum of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 10th day of April, 1894.

ALBERT W. PEARSALL. Witnesses:

A. F. Ao'roN, L. H. TRoW.

IOO

Correction in Letters Patent No. 527,073;v

It is herebycertiiied that the assignee in Letters Patent No. 527,073, granted October 9, 1894, upon the application of Albert W. Pearsall, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Valves for Pneumatic Dispatch Tribe Systems, should have been described and specified as the Metern` Despatch Company, of Maine, instead of the Meteor Despatch Company, of Boston, Massachusetts, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Ofce.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 8th day of January, A, D. 1895.

[SEAL] JN O. M. l REYNOLDS,

Assistant Secretary ofthe Intemor.

Oountersigned JOHN S. SEYMOUR, Commissioner of Patents. 

